Research Essay Outline

I. Introduction
A. Attention-getter
1. _____________________________________________________________________(Transition sentence goes here) B. Preview main points
1. _______________________________________________________________________
2. _______________________________________________________________________
3. _______________________________________________________________________(Transition sentence goes here) C. Thesis statement
1. _______________________________________________________________________ (you may also put the thesis before the preview if you find it to be a better flow for your paper)
II. Body
A. Body paragraph #1 (first proof of your thesis statement)
1. Topic sentence
a. _____________________________________________________________________
2. Supporting details (proof of topic sentence; be specific with details and have enough information)
a. ______________________________________________________________________
b. ______________________________________________________________________
c. ______________________________________________________________________
d. ______________________________________________________________________
e. ______________________________________________________________________
f. ______________________________________________________________________
B. Body paragraph #1 (second proof of your thesis statement)
1. Topic sentence
a. _____________________________________________________________________
2. Supporting details (proof of topic sentence; be specific with details and have enough information)
a. ______________________________________________________________________
b. ______________________________________________________________________
c. ______________________________________________________________________
d. ______________________________________________________________________
e. ______________________________________________________________________
f. ______________________________________________________________________

C. Body paragraph #1 (third proof of your thesis statement)
1. Topic sentence
a. _____________________________________________________________________
2. Supporting details (proof of topic sentence; be specific with details and have enough information)
a. ______________________________________________________________________
b. ______________________________________________________________________
c. ______________________________________________________________________
d. ______________________________________________________________________
e. ______________________________________________________________________
f. ______________________________________________________________________
III. Conclusion
A. Re-state thesis
1. ________________________________________(Transition sentence goes here) B. Review main points
1. _______________________________________________________________________
2. _______________________________________________________________________
3. _______________________________________________________________________(Transition sentence goes here) C. Attention-"goer" (sometimes called the "clincher")
1. _____________________________________________________________________